The government approved a Rs. 80 million additional allowance for facilitating the manufacture of solar panel prototypes.

The additional funds will be used to obtain additional equipment, chemicals and consumer goods to facilitate training in prototype manufacture.

A training programme for prototype manufacture is currently underway, under the direction of four professors from the universities of Jaffna, Kelaniya, Ruhuna and Peradeniya.

The proposal for additional funds was made by Minister of Science, Technology and Research, Susil Premajayantha.

The government hopes to generate 20% energy from renewable energy sources by 2020.